"Intransit" for Anchorage Tours

[Roz]

I'm taking a 14-day Alaskan cruise on the Noordam in September.  I was looking at tours in Anchorage.  There are 15 on the HAL website, and all but 3 of them say "intransit".  What exactly does that mean?

[Seasick Sailor]

In transit tours.

 

This tour is available only to guests whose cruise does not begin or end in Anchorage/Seward.

 

Maybe this helps?

[Roz]

@Seasick Sailor, the cruise doesn't begin or end in Anchorage/Seward.  It's roundtrip from Vancouver.  I was thinking the same thing but it doesn't make sense on this cruise.  

[NotLikeBelleRosen,IHope]

We took an Alaskan cruise tour (on a different line) and we joined the cruise in Seward after the land tour. Maybe that's happening on your cruise?

[Roz]

So if I'm on the cruise for the whole 14 days, am I considered intransit?

 

@NotLikeBelleRosen,IHope, I've heard of land tours joining the cruise at the beginning or end, but Anchorage is Day 5 of our cruise.  Seems odd to me.  

 

 

[Seasick Sailor]

Roz, since you embark in Vancouver and it's round-trip, you are not in transit and can book your tours in Anchorage. Also, check your roll call. It's active and may give you more insight.

 

Joy

[Roz]

@Seasick Sailor, thank you.  There are only 3 tours for passengers not in transit so I'll have to come up with something on my own.  

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Can you call to see what's available for you to book? Also, what times are listed for each of the excursions? Do they include an airport stop?

[Roz]

I'll have to check about the airport stops. 

[Been There, Planning That]

4 hours ago, Roz said:

I'm taking a 14-day Alaskan cruise on the Noordam in September.  I was looking at tours in Anchorage.  There are 15 on the HAL website, and all but 3 of them say "intransit".  What exactly does that mean?

We're on the May 14 day and I too HAD been confused too.  By the time I called the excursion operator at HAL it was too late and all were booked.  The best she could do was add us to a waiting list.

 

Hope our experience helps.

 

[Guest ldtr]

1 hour ago, Roz said:

@Seasick Sailor, thank you.  There are only 3 tours for passengers not in transit so I'll have to come up with something on my own.  

Actually in most cases the cruise lines use in transit for those passengers that are returning to the ship for the next leg.  Since this is a `14 day cruise that is also sold as individual 7 days I would interpret in transit to mean that the excursion is only for those that are on for the full 14 days either as a B2B or purchased as 1 14 day trip.    Since you are on for the full 14 days you would be considered to be in transit at Seward and as such could take those excursions.  

 

If you notice many of those marked in transit talk about returning to the ship.

[kennystwin]

Your cruise is one of 2 this year that will actually dock at the Port of Anchorage (Nieuw Amsterdam will stop in May) instead of the dozen or so per week that dock at Whitttier or Seward (1-3 hours away) that transit passenges to Anchorage for onward travel (to the interior or to the airport to return home). So despite the huge cruise line presence, there is little attention paid to excursions from the city itself (as evidenced in your paltry offerings). That said, you will be a just a couple of minutes to downtown (hopefully they will run a shuttle) where there is plenty to do and there are lots of tour operators serving the local tourists. There's a lot to do in Anchorage and you are "minutes from Alaska" (inside joke from a former Anchorage resident). Search like you were staying at a hotel and you will find plenty of options.

[Roz]

16 hours ago, ldtr said:

Actually in most cases the cruise lines use in transit for those passengers that are returning to the ship for the next leg.  Since this is a `14 day cruise that is also sold as individual 7 days I would interpret in transit to mean that the excursion is only for those that are on for the full 14 days either as a B2B or purchased as 1 14 day trip.    Since you are on for the full 14 days you would be considered to be in transit at Seward and as such could take those excursions.  

 

If you notice many of those marked in transit talk about returning to the ship.

 

This cruise in not sold as 2 7-day cruises.  It's a unique 14-day cruise that HAL is doing twice this year.  

[Roz]

@kennystwin, that is very helpful and gives me a good idea of what to expect.  I'll just play it by ear and wait until I get there.  Thanks again.

[Essiesmom]

You might ask on the Alaska board what to do from Anchorage when it is a port call.  EM

[Guest ldtr]

3 hours ago, Roz said:

 

This cruise in not sold as 2 7-day cruises.  It's a unique 14-day cruise that HAL is doing twice this year.  

Your cruise might not. But the excursions are using the same descriptions as is used for the Noordam 7 day north and 7 day south cruises just before yours. So the answer is the same. For your cruise everybody is intransitive and can book those excursions. For the cruise prior they would have only been bookable for those doing the 14 day loop. On your cruise no one is disembarking in Anchorage so everyone can book them.

[Roz]

Thank you for the explanation.  HAL needs to do that on its website. 

[AKJonesy]

IDK your cruise schedule for the day but you are a mere 1.5 miles from Ship Creek, the ULU Factory and downtown for starters.  IDK how you get out of the Anchorage Port because it is industrial.  I go fishing down there at Ship Creek, but never went to the Port which is close by.  How long do you have in port that day?